New ‘Net neutrality bill surfaces in House (updated)

Update: Rep. Markey's office let us know that the bill was introduced this morning. According to Markey, the bill will "ensure that the historic, open architecture nature of the Internet will be preserved and fostered for the consumers, content providers and high tech innovators of the future."

According to a draft version of the bill that we've seen, the Act won't try to legislate network neutrality. Instead, it adds a "Broadband Policy" section to the Communications Act that lays out a few general principles. The bill would force the FCC to see if those principles are being lived up to and whether any policy changes might be needed. In other words, the Congressmen want the FCC to do something, but they aren't ready to completely overrule the Commission's judgment.

The main questions that the FCC would have to look into concern network neutrality, specifically whether ISPs are "blocking, thwarting, or unreasonably interfering" with consumers' ability to use any device and to access any site.

The bill would also direct the FCC to hold at least eight public "broadband summits" around the country in order to "assess competition, consumer protection, and consumer choice issues related to broadband Internet access services." The FCC would also be directed to make it simple for people to submit comments over the Internet.

SaveTheInternet.com, which supports network neutrality, has already taken to calling the bill "a blow to the gatekeepers."

While the law would direct the FCC to hold public hearings on these issues, the Commission announced earlier today its plan to hold at least one public hearing on "broadband network management practices," no doubt with an eye toward ruling on Comcast's practices.

The hearing will be held at 10am on February 26 at Harvard Law School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and is open to the public (more details in the official announcement). With all the commissioners planning to be in attendance, this is as good a chance as most people will ever get to air their views directly to the FCC's top officials, so take advantage if you're in the area (then let us know how it went).